The 18th Hospice in the Weald Run took place on Sunday 15 September 2024 with around 1,000 competitors in the Hospice Run Half Marathon, Hospice Run 10K, Hospice Run 5K, and Hospice Heroes Family Fun Run.

The Hospice in the Weald hosted the event with race management support from Nice Work and were based at Lower Common Cricket Ground on the historic Tunbridge Wells Common. The Hospice Run Half Marathon was run on a new course and helped towards the charity target of £60,000 for the Hospice in the Weald.

This is not a race for the faint-hearted as there are around 1,200 feet of ascent/descent on the route. With names like Bishops Down and High Rocks on the course map, runners are warned what to expect. Even the finish on Lower Cricket Ground is perversely at the top of a steep hill!

There were 110 finishers in just over three hours in the half marathon. There was a big win for EddIe Lynch (1:15:10), who was ten minutes clear of M50 Paul Leach (1:25:51). Third overall was the 2024 women's champion Amelie Karlsson (1:28:58) as Harry Gripper (1:29:17) was the only other runner inside 90 minutes. The runners-up in the women's race were W35 Lianne Leakey (1:34:28) and W40 Carmen Caldwell (1:41:56).

The 10K was the most popular distance with 406 finishers in 1:37:23 and just over 250 inside an hour. The top three were David Weston (36:02), Blair Wilson (36:40) and last year's 5K winner Elliot Green (37:18). W50 Penny Pilbeam (42:59) took the women's race from W60 Amelie Jones (44:43) and Martha Tipper (46:10).

The 5K was chosen by 273 runners who finished in 52:41. There was just one athlete inside 20 minutes – Harry Wrigley claiming that honour in 19:26, with James and Richard Carter finishing together in 21:53. The top three females were Elisa Grech (24:36), W40 Vicky Eames (24:55) and Sacha Taylor (24:59).

The Hospice Heroes Family Fun Run completed the four-race programme. The fun continued at the Event Village on Lower Common Cricket Ground where there were various food vendors, music from DJ Lee, and a bouncy castle to keep the kids busy.

Previous results and race info at the runABC South race listing here.

Photo courtesy Nice Work race management